7. Yogi Berra threw the first official pitch in the stadium
Yogi Berra, the esteemed catcher and later a manager and coach, finished his career in baseball with the Yankees. Known for saying “It ain’t over till it’s over,” Berra and his “Yogi-isms” have influenced modern vernacular just as much as they have affected the baseball world. It is said that Berra wanted the home plate from the old stadium, but the Yankees sold it at an auction for six figures.
At age 83, Berra threw the first pitch at the new Yankee Stadium. He says that when throwing a ceremonial pitch, one must consider how to walk to the mound along with when and how to wave to the crowd. Although he passed away in 2015, his legacy lives on through his signed ball on the “Ball Wall” and the stories people tell — including about how he would distract batters behind the plate.
